Women: A Necessary Evil

Women: A Necessary Evil

Shane Ali-Kanhai

Daniel Mcclarnon

CLT 3378-08

The origin of mankind has been one of the most controversial issues among different cultures throughout history. Themes such as the creation of Earth, the first appearance of man, and the meddling of the gods have sparked debates among scholars for centuries. Among these arguments, the creation of women has played a big role in the facade of the world today. In several cultures one woman fueled the debacle of man's paradise. In Greek mythology, a woman named Pandora unleashed the evils of the world upon man, destroying all peace that the gods created (Thury and Devinney 40). In the Middle East, Genesis was written introducing Eve as the destructor of the perfect surroundings (59). Despite the time period or the civilization, women always bring about pain and despair. Regardless of the story of creation, it seems to be agreed that women were formed to take the blame for the imperfections of the world.

According to myths presented in Genesis and Greek legends, the Earth was created from the separation of water from land. In the Old Testament god parts the lands and the waters from heaven and forms night and day from the light of heaven (Thury and Devinney 56). This concept follows the outlook taken by Greek stories that each god took a part in creating earth (32). The goddess Chaos "boar the barren sea with its swollen waves," and "brought forth long hills" in her part of creating earth (Thury and Devinney 32). Man was formed to preside over the lesser species and be an intermediary between the gods and Earth (57). Likewise, in Genesis man was created to "have a dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over the all the earth" (Thury and Devinney 57). This ultimate agreement sees man being an all ruling and highly sophisticated mortal compared to all.

It is generally agreed that women were created to assist men in the rule of earth. The Old Testament proclaims that God told women to procreate, and the Greeks and Romans also tended to believe that women were a necessary burden (Thury and Devinney 57). When Eve defies God's ruling he "greatly multiplies [her] pain during childbearing; in pain [she] shall bring forth children, yet [her] desire shall be for her husband, and he shall rule over her" (Thury and Devinney 59). The punishment unleashed by God condemns women into an unavoidable amount of pain and suffering, and with her man suffers too. In Greek belief the "women were relegated to a more minor role in the human family" (31). Women were seen as imperfect specimens, and, therefore, inflict all dilemmas on to the face of the earth. Just as the story of Eve discusses the naÐ"Їve nature of inexperience, the story of Pandora tells of how curiosity led to the downfall of man. In Greek and Roman mythology women were seen as a "drain on productivity" and that "the world has gotten worse" because of them (Thury and Devinney 38). Because of Pandora "diseases came to visit men by day and, uninvited, come again at night brining their pains in silence" (Thury and Devinney 41). This description shows the reader how man suffers due to woman. Even with the problems that women cause, there is a reason that they were created.

The view of women often varies on the culture, depending on their role in society. Because women were considered inferior during the time that these myths were written, the actions of the women discussed are always negative. Women take the blame for everything man has done wrong over the course of history, despite their inability to do so. In every myth man was created first, always in a perfect environment. Women were created to be "an evil thing for [man's] delight," never to be a useful part of society (Thury and Devinney 40). Even in artworks, man was depicted as this perfect specimen, and women were depicted as less religious figures.

Paralleling the creation of earth, the creation of man and woman came from molding of elements. In Genesis Adam was created out of dust into the image of God; this follows the theory that man is perfect (Thury and Devinney 57). Eve, however, was created from a rib of Adam, making her seem as lesser form not worthy of Gods time (58). In the creation of Pandora, Zeus "told Hephaistos to quickly mix earth and water," showing that woman was not even worthy of Zeus' time (40). As seen in the Greek's society, Pandora is created out of the earth and water, similar to man (40). Eve, however, wasn't even worthy of the same material as man, she was made out of used materials (58). Both, on the other hand, were created second to man.

The plight of women has served as a scapegoat to take blame off of men. As seen in the Old Testament Eve is tricked to picking an apple from the sacred tree (Thury and Devinney 59). A serpent, more specifically a snake, is used to resemble evil as he deceives

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